Listed-corn cultivator.



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@wiwi/wow www mf No. 804,171. PATENTED Nov. 7, 1905. J. B. PROSKOVBG,JR.

LISTED CORN CULTIVATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 9. 1905.

.PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

N0.A804,17I.

J. Bg PROSKOVEG, JR.. LISTED UGRN UULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E mw ww mw 804,171. PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

J B PROSKOVEC JR LISTED CORN CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

unirsi) l sTArias PATEN'l1 GFFIQF.

LISTED-CORN CULTIVATOR.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Application led January 9, 1905. Serial No. 240,224.

To a/ZZ whom t www] concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES B. PRosKovno, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bruno, in the county of Butler and State ofNebraska, have invented a new and useful Listed-Corn Cultivator, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in listed-corn cultivators.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction oflisted-corn cultivators and to provide a simple and comparativelyinexpensive one of great strength and durability adapted to cut down thebanks between the rows of corn and capable of cutting stalks, roots, andclods into small pieces and of pulverizing the clods.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter which will cut down all kinds of injurious weeds and plantssuch as cockle-burs, morning-glories, suniiowers, &c.--and which willalso work the soil slowly toward the corn.

Also the invention has for its object to provide means for loosening thesoil of the bank to enable v.it to hold water for the double purpose ofpreventing the bank from becoming dry and the corn lfrom being washedout.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists intheconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of constructionwithin the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a listed-corn cultivatorconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation. Fig. 3' is a transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 3 B'of Fig. 1. Fig. 4.- is a central longitudinal sectionalview. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on theline 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective vievv of one of thegroups of front knives. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe sets of rear knives. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one sideof the movable Scrapers for cleaning tlf-.e clod-crushing rolls. Fig. 9is a detail sectional view illustrating the connection at the outer endsof the transverse levers for adjusting the rear laterallymovable knives.Fig. lO is a detail perspective view of one of the draft-plates orclevises.

Like numerals of reference designate correspending parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate inner and outer runners arranged in pairs andconnected by suitable transverse bars or beams to form a frame. Therunners are adapted to guide the cultivator to permit the same to runstraight, and they also prevent the cultivator from slipping -on ahillside.A The cultivator shown in the accompanying drawings is providedwith two sets of runners, the center of the cultivator being adapted tostraddle a row of corn; but in practice the mechanism shown in theaccompanying drawings is designed to be duplicated to permit thecultivator to operate on the banks between and at the sides of two rowsof corn.` The runners, which may be connected in any desired manner tosecure the desired strength, are setl at a lateral inclination, therunners 1 and 2 being oppositely inclined and diverging downwardly toclear the bank between rows of corn.

The cultivator is provided at the front of the space between each pairof runners l and 2 with front knives 3 and 4, spaced apart and providedat their front ends 5 with eyes or openings for the reception of atransverse pintle-rod 6. The transverse pintle-rod 6 eX- tends acrossthe space between the runners and is mounted upon blocks 7, secured tothe runners at the front ends thereof and arranged vertically. Thepintle-rod, which may be of any desired construction, is preferablyprovided at one end with a head and at the other end with screw-threadsfor the reception of a nut for detachably securing the pintlerod to theblocks or pieces 7. The front ends of the knives are spaced apart andfrom the blocks by spools 8, and they are connected between their endsby a transverse bar 9, which is secured to the knives by angle-plates10. The angle-plates are L-shaped and have their arms riveted to thelower face of the connecting. bar and to the adjacent side faces of theknives. The rear ends of the right-hand knives 3 are turned slightly tothe right, and those at the left-hand side are turned to the eft. thesoil and to work the same slightly toward the opposite rows of corn. Thefront knives are adapted to swing upward and downward to throw them intoand out of operation and to arrange them at the desired depthand alsoThis enables the front knives to divide IOO IIO

for the purpose of cleaning them, and this movement of the knives iseffected by means of a front longitudinally-movable lever 11, fulcrumedby a bolt or other suitable pivot on the toothed segments 12 andprovided with a spring-actuated detent 13 for engaging the same. Theseg-ment is provided at the bottom with laterally extending attachment-Hanges 14, forming a base-plate and secured to the transverse connectingbar or beam 15. rlhe lever is provided at the bottom with aforwardly-extending arm 16, which is connected by a link 17 with theconnecting-bar 9. The connecting-bar 9 has upwardly-extending ears orilanges18. provided with a plurality of perforations for the receptionof the pivot 19, which also passes through the link 17. The link 17 isarranged between the ears or ianges of the connecting-banand when theoperating-lever is oscillated the front knives will be swung upward ordownward. The spring-actuated detent, which is substantially L-shaped,is provided at opposite sides with substantially U-shaped flanges 20,which embrace and slide on the opposite edges of the operating-lever.connected by a rod with a latch-lever 21 of the ordinary construction,located adjacent to the handle of the operating-lever.

Mounted upon the transverse bar or beam 15 is a fixed cleaning device,consisting of a series of forwardly-extending cleaning members orfingers 22, preferably formed integral with an attachmentplate andlocated above the spaces between the rear ends of the front blades andadapted when the latter are swung upward to remove the soil, stalks,roots, and the like from the front knives to prevent the same frombecoming clogged. These cleaning members or fingers, which are spacedapart, are composed of approximately horizontal bottom portions andsubstantially V-shaped upper portions. The V-shaped upper portions areinclined at the front and vertical at the back, and they support andstilen the members `or lingers. The end cleaning members or fingers 23,which are arranged at the outer sides of the end knives, are wider thanthe intermediate members or fingers and extend to and are supported bythe inner ends of the blocks or pieces 7. By swinging the front knivesupward and downward they may be quickly and thoroughly cleaned.

The clods are crushed by a plurality of transversely-disposed rolls 24,provided at their ends with suitable journals 25, arranged in bearingsof the frame, bars 26 being pret'- erably secured to the upper edges ofthe runners to receive the rolls. These bars 26 extend from the frontconnecting bar or beam 15 to a rear connecting bar or beam 27. Thecrushing-rolls are provided at their ends with suitable metallic rims ortires 28 to prevent them from splitting, and the journals, which Thedetent is` have heads at their outer ends, are preferably square attheir inner portions, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanyingdrawings;,but the journals may be constructed in any other desiredmanner. vrl`he rolls are yieldably held in engagement with the clods bycoiled springs 29, arranged in suitable casings or housings 30 andengaging upper bearing-blocks 31. The casings, which may be constructedin any desired manner, preferably consist of a single piece ot' metalbent at opposite sides of the center to form two sides and a connectingtop portion and having the lower ends of the sides bent outward toprovide attaching-ianges 32. The sides are provided at their inner andouter edges with inwardly-extending flanges 33, which partially closethe casings or housings at the inner and outer sides. The springsyieldably hold the crushing-rolls in engagement with the clods, and theypermit the rolls to move upward when they come in contact with stones orsimilar obstructions, whereby the rolls are prevented from beinginjured.

The soil when damp or wet is removed from the clod-crushing rolls by amovable cleaning device adapted to be thrown into and out of operationand consisting of opposite sets of scraper-blades 34, extendinglaterally from opposite sides of a rectangular frame 35 and lcarried bythe same. The blades, which have lower inclined scraping portions andupper vertical portions, are provided at their inner ends with ears orlanges 36, which are secured to the sides of the rectangular frame. Thescraper-blades are also supported by horizontal braces 37, arranged atan angle to the scraper-blades and secured at their outer ends to thesame and at their inner ends to the rectangular frame at the sidesthereof. The inner ends of the front braces are arranged at the frontcorners of the rectangular frame,l and the other braces have their innerends fitted against the adjacent Hanges or ears oi' the scraper-blades.The rectangular frame is supported by front and rear links 38 and 39,arranged in pairs and pivoted at their upper ends to the sides of therectangular frame at the front and rear ends thereofl and detachablyconnected with the main frame of the cultivator by removable pivots 40,consisting of split beams arranged in perforations of the lower ends ofthe links and in openings of L-shaped brackets 41, which are secured tothe transverse beams 15 and 27. By removing the lower pivots of thelinks the movable cleaning device may be readily detached from thecultivator. The links are adapted to swing backward and forward toarrange the scraper-blades in position for removing the soil from therolls and to carry the scraper-blades away from the same. The forwardmovement ot' the links raises the scraper-blades to their inoperativeposition, and the frame is held against backward move- IOO IIC

tained in their operative position by their` weight and the weight ofthe frame.

The cultivator is provided at its back with laterally-adjustable rearknives 45, 46, and 47, arranged in sets of three and mounted onapproximately upright levers 48, fulcrumed between their ends and havingtheir upper and lower arms arranged at a slight angle to each other. Theknives of each set are preferably formed integral with an attachmentplate, which is angularly bent to form a partial casing or housing 49,conforming to the configuration of the lower arm of the lever and boltedor otherwise secured to the same. The levers swing laterally, and theirpivots 5() are mounted on tapered stems .51, which are supported byinclined braces 52. rlhe stems are provided at their lower ends withteeth or attachment portions, which are bolted or otherwise secured tothe upper face of the rear transverse beam v27 The lower knife 47 is setatan angle and extends in a direction of the median line of the spacebetween the runners l and 2. It has a slight twist, and its outerportion is curved outward to enable it to work the soil toward the corn.This knife is adapted to cut down the weeds, and its cutting action isVaried by swinging inward and outward the lever upon which it ismounted. The intermediate knife, which is adapted to cut down the middleof the bank, is set at an angle, and its outer end extends toward themedian line of the space between the runners 1 and 2 and is beveled orcut away slightly, as shown. The top knife is adapted to take away therest of the bank left bythe front knives, and it is set at an angle, itsouter end being bent outward slightly, beveled, and slightly twisted.These knives are adapted to cut down the bank between two rows of corn,and they work the soil gradually toward the corn and at the same timecut down all injuriousweeds and plants, such as morning-glories,sunflowers, cockleburs, and the like. knife-carrying levers areconnected by a pair of links 53 with the outer ends of the pair oftransversely-disposed adjusting-levers 54, fulcrumed between their endson a double-toothed segment 55 and having their inner and outer armsarranged at a slight angle. The outer ends of the transversely-disposedadjustinglevers are forked and provided with slots 56 to receive thepivots 57, which also pass The upper arms of thel through registeringperforations of the inner ends of the links 53. The inner ends of thelinks 53 are overlapped and provided with a plurality of perforations topermit an adjustment of the knife-carrying levers. The inner arms of thetransverse levers are provided with detents 58 for engagement with theteeth of the double segment, which is preferably mounted on a tool boxor receptacle 59. The detents 58 are slidably mounted on the transverselevers like those heretofore described, and they are connected withlatchlevers 60, arranged adjacent to the handles or grips of theoperating-levers.

In order to loosen up the soil between the rows of corn to prevent thebank from drying out and also to keep the corn from being washed out,the cultivator is provided with vertically-movable substantiallyhook-shaped knives 61, arranged in pairs between the sets oflaterally-movable knives and having depending cutting portions, whichare curved inward slightly toward each other. Each pair of hook-shapedknives is connected by a transverse brace 62 and have quarter-bends 63in advance of the brace to arrange the front ends of the shanks of theknives horizontally. The hook-shaped knives are provided at the ends oftheir shanks with laterally.- extending pintles 64, arranged in suitablebearings 65, consisting of metal straps or bars provided at the bearingportions with openings, throughwhich the shanks of the hook-shapedknives extend. rlhe pintles extend laterally from the shanks of thehookshaped knives and form heads for retaining the knives in engagementwith the bearing portions of the straps or bars. The straps or bars arebent between their ends to form two sides and a connecting portion, theconnecting portion being curved to form the bearing for the knives.rl`he sides formed by bending the straps or bars are secured to theupper or lower faces of the transverse rear beam 27 of the main frame ofthe cultivator.

The connecting bar or brace of each pair of hook-shaped knives isprovided with an upwardly-extending arm 66, having a plurality ofperforations for the reception of a pivot 67 for securing the arm to therear end of a loop 68. The front end of the link is connected with arear longitudinally-swinging adjusting-lever 69, fulcrumed at its lowerend to a toothed segment 70 and having a sliding detent 7l for engagingthe tooth of the segment. The detent is constructed like thoseheretofore described and is connected with a latch-lever 72. By swingingthe lever backward and forward the hook-shaped knives are raised andlowered. j

The cultivator is ,provided with a seat 73, mounted on an arched support74 and adjustably secured to the same by means of a threaded shank and anut 75. The arched support is provided with a plurality of per- IOC IIO

forations for the reception of the shank. A foot-rest 76 is provided forthe accommodation of the driver. and it consists of laterallyextendingcurved foot-receiving portions and a shank adjustably secured to themain frame by means of a bolt 77. The main frame of the cultivator isprovided with a central platform portion 78, having a plurality ofperforations for the reception of the fastening device 77 to permit thefoot-rest to be adjusted backward and forward. The rear end -of thearched support is secured to the rear transverse beam 27, and the frontend of the arched support is secured within the open casing 43, which ismounted upon the transverse beam 15.

' A draft attachment 79 is connected with the central runners 1 at theinner faces thereof by means of draft or clevis plates 80, provided witha plurality of hooks or engaging portions 81, arranged at differentelevations. The hooks are preferably arranged in sets of three, but maybe of any desired number. The central hooks are arranged to cause thecultivator to run level on an even draft, the upper hooks are adapted toproduce a downdraft to cause the cultivator to run deeper,

and the lower hooks aord an updraft to cause the'cultivator to run lessdeeply. The draft attachment is provided with front and rear rings,which are connected by links. The front ring is designed to be connectedwith the draft-animals, and the rear rings vare for engagement with thehooks of the draft or clevis plates.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a cultivator, the combination of a pair of spaced runners, knivesarranged at intervals in the spaces between the runners and provided attheir front ends with openings, a shaft passing through the openings ofthe knives and connecting the runners, and means for spacing the kniveson the shaft.

2. In a cultivator, the combination of a pair of spaced runners, knivesarranged at inter-l vals in the spaces between the runners and providedat their front ends with openings, a

vshaft passing through the openings of the knives and connecting therunners, and spacing-blocks mounted on the shaft and spacing the knivesfrom each other and from the runners.

3. In a cultivator, the combination of runners arranged in pairs, theinner members of each pair being separated by a space open at the front,transverse shafts connecting each pair of runners, sets of knivesarranged at their front ends on the shaft, and means for raising andlowering each set of knives independently of the other. l

4. In a cultivator, the combination of vertically-movable knives havingtheir rear ends bentlaterally, aiixed cleaning device arranged above theoperative position of the knives and having lingers spaced apart topermit the knives to pass between them, said fingers being also arrangedto engage the laterally-bent ends of the knives, and means for movingthe knives upward and downward to adjust their depth and also to bringthe knives into coperative relation with the cleaning device.

5. In a cultivator, the combination of runners, a shaft connecting therunners', vertically-movable knives mounted at their' front ends on theshaft, and a fixed cleaning device connecting the runners and arrangedabove the operative position of the rear ends of the knives.

6. A cultivator provided with a continuous series ofsimultaneously-adjustable longitudinally-disposed knives hinged at thefront and arranged in two sets located at opposite sides of the centerof the series and having their rear ends bent laterally for dividing thesoil, the blades of each set being' bent outwardly in oppositedirections from the center of the series.

7. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame, of a plurality ofhinged knives arranged to swing upward and downward, and a cleaningdcvice arranged above the normal working position of theknives andconsisting of aI plate or body portion provided at `intervals withprojecting fingers arranged in the path of the knives. l

8. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame, of a plurality ofhinged knives arranged to swing upward and downward, and a cleaningdevice consisting of a plate or body portion provided at intervals withprojecting lingers arranged in the path of the knives, said lingersbeing composed ofa substantially hori- -zontal bottom portion, aninclined upper front portion, and a rear portion connecting the inclinedand horizontal portions.

9. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame having runners, casingsmounted on the frame above the runners, a plurality of knives, a seriesof clod-crushing rolls having journals vertically movable in the casingsand arranged at intervals in rear of the knives, and springs arrangedwithin the casings and yieldably holding the rolls in position.

10. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame provided with inner andouter runners arranged in pairs, front knives arranged at intervalsbetween the inner and outer runners, and clod-crushing rolls extendingacross the space between the inner and outer runners and located in rearof the knives.

l1. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame, of a plurality ofknives, a series of clod-crushing rolls arranged in rear of the knives,and a cleaning device provided with scraperblades movable simultaneouslytoward and from the rolls.

l2. In a cultivator, the combination of a i frame, a series ofclod-crushing rolls, and a IOO cleaning device movably mounted on theframe and provided with laterally-extending scraperblades arranged to becarried simultaneously toward and from the rolls.

13. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame, a plurality ofclod-crushing rolls, and a movable cleaning device having oscillatorysupporting-links and provided with blades.,

14. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame, 'a plurality or'clod-crushing rolls, a movable cleaning device havinglaterally-extending scraper-blades arranged to be carried simultaneouslytoward and from the rolls, and links movably supportingthecleaningdevice.

15. In a cultivator, the combination of a main frame, opposite sets or'clod-crushing rolls, and acleaning device comprisingaframe arranged atthe inner ends o1'l the rolls and provided with laterally-extendingscraperblades, and means for movably mounting the frame to carry theblades toward'and from the rolls.

16. In a cultivator, the combination of a main frame, opposite sets ofclod-crushing rolls, a cleaning device embodying a frame arranged at theinner ends or' the rolls, oscillatory links supporting the frame, bladesmounted on the frame and extending' from opposite sides of the cleaningdevice, and a catch for holding the cleaning device.

17. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame, opposite rolls, acleaning device provided at opposite sides with blades, oscillatorylinks supporting thecleaning device and arranged at an inclination whenthe cleaning device is in operative position, whereby the cleaningdevice will be maintained in such position by gravity, and acatcharranged in the path of the cleaning device for holding the same out ofoperation.

18. A cultivator provided with alaterallyadjustable set ot' kniveslocated at different elevations and arranged to cut down the bank andwork the soil laterally.

19. A cultivator provided with a laterallyadjustable set ot' kniveslocated at different elevations and arranged to cut down a bank andclear the same of plants and weeds, said set being composed of upper,lower and intermediate knives set at an angle, the lower knife havingits outer portion bent outwardly.

20. A cultivator provided with a laterallyadjustable set of kniveslocated at different elevations and arranged to out down a bank andclear the same of plants and weeds, said set being composed of upper,lower, and intermediate knives set at an angle, the lower knife havingits outer portion bent outwardly, and the outer portion of theintermediate knife being extended in the opposite direction.

21. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame, substantially uprightlevers fulcrumed between their ends on the frame, knives carried by thelevers and located at dilerentelevations, and means for adjusting thelevers.

22. In a cultivator, the combination oi a frame, approximately uprightlevers fulcrumed between their ends on the frame,

knives mounted on the lower arms of the levers at different elevations,and means connected with the upper arms of the levers for adjusting theknives.

23. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame, levers mounted on theframe and arranged in pairs, laterally-adjustable knives frame, rearwardly-converging knives mounted on the Jframe, and rearwardly-extendingsubstantiall y hook-shaped knives located between the said knives.

25. In a cultivator, the combination of a lframe, rearwardly-convergingknives mounted on the frame, and rearwardly-extending substantiallyhook-shaped knives located between the said knives and adjustable upwardand downward.

26. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame, oppositerearwardly-converging laterally-adjustable knives, andvertically-adjustable knives operating between the said knives.

27. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame. pivotally-mountedlaterally-adjustable knives carried by the frame, andverticallyadjustable substantially hook-shaped knives operating betweenthe said knives and arranged to swing upward and downward.

28. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame having inner and outerspaced supporting means. front knives mounted between the inner andouter supporting means and arranged at intervals, opposite rollsarranged in sets in rear of the front knives, rearwardlyconvergingknives arranged to cut down a bank, and downwardly-extending knivesoperating between the rearwardly-converging knives.

29. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame provided with inner andouter runners arranged in pairs and set at an inclination, and knivescarried by the frames and operating at the spaces between the inner andouter runners.

30. In a cultivator, the combination of a main frame, front and rearknives mounted on the frame, opposite rolls arranged between the knives,amovable cleaning device embodying an open frame, and knives extendingfrom opposite sides of the frame, and seat-supporting means mounted onthe main frame and located Within the frame of the cleaning device.v

31. In a cultivator, the combination of a IOO IIO

IZO

frame having runners, plates mounted on the runners and provided withhooks arranged at different elevations.

32. In a cultivator, the combination with runners, of a plurality ofknives mounted at the front thereof and between the same, and a rollalso mounted on the runners and filling the space between the same.

33. In a cultivator, the combinationwith runners, of a plurality ofknives mounted at the front thereof and between the same, and a seriesof rolls mounted on the runners and filling the space between the same,said rolls being arranged in rear of the knives.

34. In aicultivator, the combination of a frame, and avertically-disposed lever pivoted at an intermediate point onthe frameto provide upper and lower arms and carryinga plurality of knives at itslower arm and movable transversely ofthe travel of the machine.

35. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame, and a pair of leverspivoted at an intermediate point on the frame andl movablesimultaneously toward and from each other transversely of the travel ofthe machine, said levers carrying at their lower ends knives whichextend longitudinally of the machine so as to work the soil laterally.

36. In a cultivator, the combination of a frame, and alaterally-adjustable verticallydisposed lever pivoted at an intermediatepoint on the frame to form upper and lower arms and provided at itslower arm with a set of knives located at different elevations movabletransversely of the travel of the machine and arranged to cut down abank and work the soil laterally.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto axed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. PROSKOVEC, JR. Witnesses:

L. S. HAsTINGs, E. J. DWORAK.

